Taming them young

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISAWINDHOEK Namibia's senior national team coach, Bobby Samaria, says he has selected three Young Warriors players because they have shown maturity for the junior team and he aims to learn more about them.Left-back Amazing Kandjii, midfielders Prins Tjiueza and Steven Damaseb have earned themselves a call-up to the senior team. The players join a 30-strong squad set to compete in Namibia's Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers. The trio were part of the under-20 national team which competed at the Africa Cup of Nations in Mauritania. “As a nation we always have to have a vision of looking for forward and now Kandjii did very well at the left-back position. “Steven Damaseb jr and Prins Tjiueza have shown their mettle,” Samaria said. Samaria warned fans not to expect too much from the youngsters at such an early stage of their senior careers. “We know the players now and it is now for us to bring them on board and try and put them in training with the bigger boys. “We will also have to see how they will gel with the senior national team and also to understand them as human beings.”Tjiueza and Damaseb both scooped man-of-the-match awards at the tournament and are also under-17 Cosafa Cup Golf medallist. The players also formed part of the under-20 team which reached the Cosafa Cup final in 2020. Samaria believes he has chosen the best possible squad to represent the country in their next assignments. The likes of Peter Shalulile of Mamelodi Sundowns are expected to bolster the nation's attacking options. The coach also has Orlando Pirates' expensive signing Deon Hotto at his disposal. Hotto has been in form for the Buccaneers and Samaria hopes that he can emulate that form in the national team. The Brave Warriors are set to take on Chad (24 March) and Guinea (28 March) at the Sam Nujoma Stadium. In the first leg of the qualifiers, Namibia beat Chad 2-1 at home and lost 2-0 and 1-0 to Guinea and Mali respectively. In November 2020, Namibia was defeated 1-0 by Mali at the Stade du 26 Mars Stadium and again 2-1 on home soil. So far, Mali leads the group with 10 points, followed in second by Guinea with eight points, Namibia in third spot has three points and Chad has one point. Goalkeepers: Loydt Kazapua, Virgil Vries, Edward Maova, Ratanda Mbazuvara and Kamaijanda Ndisiro.Defenders: Tiberius Lombardt, Ryan Nyambe, Ananias Gebhardt, Immanuel Heita, Riaan Hanamub, Ivan Kamberipa, Emilio Martin, Amazing Kandjii, Vitapi Ngaruka, Approcious Petrus, Denzel Haoseb and Charles Hambira.Midfielders: Deon Hotto, Wangu Batista Gome, Dynamo Fredericks, Obrey Amseb, Wendel Rudath, Absalom Iimbondi, Marcel Papama, Prins Tjiueza, Willy Stephanus, Alfeus Handura, Wesley Katjiteo, Manfred Starke and Steven Damaseb.Strikers: Peter Shalulile, Derl Goagoseb, Elmo Kambindu, Bio Gurirab, Joslin Kamatuka and Salomon Omseb.

Taming them young

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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Taming them young

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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